Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee Statement to Assembly, No. 1653 (January 27, 2020)

Summary

Statement of the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee, State of New Jersey, dated January 27, 2020, reporting favorably Assembly Bill No. 1653. The bill would encourage municipalities, when adopting redevelopment plans under the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," to identify locations for publicly-available fueling or charging infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). It would let municipalities fund such stations through revenue streams currently available for infrastructure related to redevelopment projects. The statement cites New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan and a report of its Alternative Fuels Work Group, and says public stations are necessary to reduce range anxiety.

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ASSEMBLY COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY,
No. 1653

STATE
OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY
27, 2020

The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee
reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1653.

This bill would encourage municipalities to identify
appropriate locations for the development of publicly-available infrastructure
for fueling or charging zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) when adopting redevelopment
plans. For the purposes of this bill, the term “zero-emission vehicle”
specifically includes battery electric-powered vehicles and hydrogen fueling
stations. The bill would also encourage municipalities to build
publicly-available ZEV fueling and charging stations by allowing municipalities
to fund them through revenue streams that are currently available to fund
infrastructure related to redevelopment projects.

New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan encourages the greater
use of ZEVs by improving and expanding the ZEV charging infrastructure needed
throughout New Jersey. A report of the New Jersey Energy Master Plan
Alternative Fuels Work Group identified the development, installation, and
maintenance of ZEV charging infrastructure, both at home and at strategically
selected public places, as one of the most significant opportunities for, and
barriers to, advancing the deployment and use of ZEVs in New Jersey.

The development of ZEV charging infrastructure is a
critical step in creating jobs, fostering economic growth, reducing greenhouse
gas emissions, reducing our reliance on foreign fuels, and reducing pollution
attributable to the operation of petroleum-based vehicles. Limited driving
distance is a fundamental disadvantage and obstacle to broad consumer adoption
of ZEVs. In order to eliminate this fundamental disadvantage and dramatically
increase consumer acceptance and usage of ZEVs, it is essential to develop a
network of convenient ZEV charging and fueling stations.

Municipalities have an opportunity to increase ZEV
adoption by increasing the availability of public charging and fueling stations,
thereby reducing consumer concerns about range anxiety. Range anxiety refers
to the concern consumers have in running out of charge or fuel and finding
themselves stranded. Although most ZEVs will support the owner’s typical daily
drive, consumers worry about the unplanned trips that might cause their
vehicles to run out of charge or fuel. While most ZEVs will be charged or
fueled at home or at work, the development of public ZEV charging and fueling stations
is necessary to support motorists traveling outside their normal routine, and
to reduce range anxiety. In addition to providing a real solution to range
anxiety concerns, the development of public ZEV fueling and charging stations
increases public awareness of zero-emission vehicles.

This bill will further the goal of improving and
expanding the State’s ZEV fueling and charging infrastructure by encouraging
each municipality, at the time of adopting redevelopment plans under the
"Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," to consider planning for
publicly available ZEV fueling and charging stations, and when considering the
use of various methods available under current law for the financing of public
infrastructure components of redevelopment projects, to consider including the
development of publicly available ZEV fueling and charging stations in a
redevelopment project.

This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the
2020-2021 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the
changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

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